This website uses cookies to improve your experience. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. That is, right after you go tubing down the Cowichan River! Get Directions to the turn off. Swimming and tubing are popular activities at the Stoltz Pool day-use area and below Skutz Falls. May be fun to check that out at the right time. I had never been to Skutz Falls before, but there are a few scenes in West Coast Romance Book 3 that take place there, so I figured I better get my boots on the ground and check these falls out. Warning: The Cowichan River has fluctuating water levels and swift currents. There is a parking lot just a few hundred metres (or a few hundred yards, if you’re from south of the border ) from the falls. Viewing the falls takes no time so why not add in an afternoon hike along the banks of the Cowichan River. If that makes any sense at all. Of course, the Marie Canyon trestle is a wonder and Skutz Falls is also worth viewing. Campsite reservations are accepted. The Cowichan River Provincial Park recreation area has four main areas. Marie Canyon, 66 mile trestle, Skutz falls, and Skutz bluff are highlights of hiking in the areas. I knew that Skutz Falls would play a significant role in the meeting of heroine and hero in West Coast Romance Book 3. We have 32 pet friendly vacation rentals in Skutz Falls resorts. Sometimes, when there is a location I would like to use in a book, but I can’t go and see it, or I haven’t been there in a long time, I will cruise Google to get the lay of the land. Skutz Falls might not be mighty, but even mini-waterfalls have the power to enchant! Who orients a sign with a map on it, so that it’s facing south? Even though the waterfall is small, the area below the falls is very narrow, so you can still feel the power of the rushing water. Swimming in the Cowichan River is at the swimmer’s discretion – rapids, pools, long slow meandering sections of the river are all to be found. Skutz Falls day-use area and campsite: day-use area: A great place to picnic, watch surging white water, salmon runs and fish ladders. Just ride the current, jump out, and do it all over again! Skutz Falls is also a must see as it offers stunning views of river rapids and a great spot for an afternoon picnic. From there it was west and south to Pete’s pond. You are good as long as you stay on the trail. It forms one end of the scenic Cowichan River Footpath. But I wasn’t going to drive all the way up there to just scramble down from the parking lot, so we planned to do a loop hike. Paddling from Skutz Falls to Marie Canyon is approximately 10 kilometres and you might have to portage around Marie Canyon, depending on the water level. This adventure took place on 13 August 2020. It makes a nice loop. We parked at a lot just a little bit away from the falls and consulted the map that had been very generously placed there by park staff—Skutz Falls is located in Cowichan Valley Provincial Park. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The Lake Cowichan RCMP began the search after the man texted a friend to say he was stuck sometime after 6 … Skutz Falls would be better described as steep rapids. But we didn’t…. The problem was that I had told my kids that we were going for a short hike and then a swim in the river. ... End point: End your float at Davidson’s Pool, a popular swimming hole in the community, located at 23700 128 Cres. So imagine my surprise when I actually saw them. You can start and finish your hike at Skutz Falls, a popular swimming hole in the summer and a great place to watch salmon jump up the fish ladders in the fall. Skutz Falls is a little canyon-like subsection of the lovely Cowichan River. You will have to just take my word for it and go see for yourself. Skutz Falls is a little canyon-like subsection of the lovely Cowichan River. Whitewater Kayaking on Vancouver Island Cowichan River: wilderness guides and food and beverage artisans, Skutz Falls is a waterfall on the Cowichan River on Vancouver Island, British In 1901, Whymper and his four guides (Joseph Bossoney, Christian Kaufmann, Nelson Whitewater Rafting Co. Public Notices The Town of Lake Cowichan. It’s that hidden! The Cowichan River Provincial Park is a popular recreation park for many outdoor adventure activities. The trail starts from Cowichan Lake Road, approx 4km west of the Skutz Falls turnoff, or 4km east of Lake Cowichan. Skutz Falls is not just a lovely place to view but also home to a refreshing swimming hole. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Many come here to challenge the current of the river and get some exercise, as you can travel from one end of the pool to the other in no time. To get to the Cowichan River Footpath, turn right onto Mayo Road from highway 18 about 9km from Lake Cowichan. But you only need to look downriver or upriver, ignoring what’s behind you, to take in the beauty that is the Cowichan River. We chose to move down below the falls to swim. Also, tubers should always avoid submerged trees and logs. ( Log Out / ( Log Out / Which is what would’ve happened, if we’d gone west. Below the falls, in the summer time, are swimming areas. But even mini-waterfalls are amazing, and you can still feel the power of the water as it rushes by. Be safety conscious if you think swimming in the Cowichan River is a good idea. Located on the Cowichan River in the beautiful Cowichan Valley, Skutz Falls is a popular area for outdoor leisure. By the time we actually arrived at the falls, I was sweaty and ready for a swim. The Skutz Falls area is home to the Skutz Falls fish ladders, it has a couple of quick little rapids exciting enough to make the under 1km walk back to the start over and over again all part of the fun. From there we took what appeared to be a “less traveled” route southward. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Secondly, the Stoltz Pool Campsite is located off Highway 18 and gives access to the middle of the Park. These falls are a perfect place to take a walk around and view the waterfalls and old salmon ladders along the river. You don’t need to be afraid of getting carried away down the river in this spot because in the summer it gets very shallow at the end. Strange structure on the trail to Skutz Falls. We didn’t actually tell the kids that we had taken the longer loop. Don’t exactly know where Cowichan Lake is? Look for a turn off out of Duncan, onto the Cowichan Valley Highway. Warning: The Cowichan River has fluctuating water levels and swift currents. Cowichan Search and Rescue found a man stranded in his car, which was stuck deep in the woods on a logging road, last weekend in the Skutz Falls area. This venture can easily be made into two smaller loops, a 6k and a 8k. Best to park at Skutz Falls. And that’s where things went a little haywire. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. About 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) after exiting Cowichan Lake, the river drops over Skutz Falls, a small waterfall that is often visited when fish are climbing the fish ladder constructed beside the falls. Horseback Riding - Riding is permitted on the Trans-Canada Trail Swimming - Swimming is a popular activitie at the Stoltz Pool day-use area and below Skutz Falls. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The down-river section on the south side is the more frequented trail and is well brushed out. Get back to nature at picturesque Skutz Falls on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Continue following the signs on Skutz Falls Road to Riverbottom Road and the day use area. How to Access the Cowichan River: Skutz Falls Road: (Western Access) Located off of Highway 18, Skutz Falls Rd provides access to Skutz Falls and Marie Canyon … Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. As I hinted at the beginning, this entire adventure was research driven. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The Cowichan River Footpath follows the River from one end the park to the other. An interesting feature is the man made fish ladders that help get the fish up the Cowichan River. There are beautiful views, good parking, pit toilets, and an information shelter. Easy stretch of trail along the Cowichan River. THE UNEXPECTED ROMANCE OF A SIDNEY ISLAND DAY TRIP! There is just enough current to have a little fun without having to worry about any nine-year-olds getting swept downriver. As each owner sets their own pet policy, there are many owners that do allow dogs, cats and even other critters to stay at their vacation rental home in Skutz Falls. The Holt Creek Trail Head, Stoltz Pool and Campgrounds, Maire Canyon, 66 Mile Trestle and Skutz Falls Trailhead. The river is the main attraction of the park, as it includes great recreational options such as swimming, canoeing, white-water kayaking, tubing and fishing. Skutz Falls is not just a lovely place to view but also home to a refreshing swimming hole. Hazards include rapid water level changes, log jams and rapids. Change ), View from the jumping point http://rickpaulettervjournal.blogspot.ca/2010/10/skutz-falls-last-river-blog-for-now.html, http://www.trailpeak.com/trail-Little-Mountain-near-Parksville-BC-6729, By: Gordon Niamath http://www.panoramio.com/user/241496/tags/Errington, http://www.nanaimoinformation.com/little-mountain.php, http://rickpaulettervjournal.blogspot.ca/2010/10/skutz-falls-last-river-blog-for-now.html. There is a nice picnic spot at the west end of the 66 Mile Trestle. These falls are a perfect place to take a walk around and view the waterfalls and old salmon ladders along the river. I, personally, blame whomever it was that placed the sign. I think my friend might still be laughing at me. Children should be accompanied by an adult when in or near the river. There are still large chinook salmon swimming up the river and about 70 have so far been counted at Stoltz but only a few have been seen above Skutz falls. But don’t be worried, it’s more fun than it is dangerous. Unfortunately, the area directly next to the falls isn’t exactly picturesque—there is a man made fish ladder that has seen better days. Explore the Cowichan River footpath, fish for trout, swimming, skutz falls fish ladder, and so much more. The trail was lined with berry bushes, especially red huckleberry, so the first part of our hike was rather slow, because one of my twins was too busy picking berries to get anywhere fast. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The area is a rocky playground with pools deep enough … There are 39 drive-in and 4 walk-in sites at the Stoltz Pool campsite. With its river rapids and man-made fish ladder offering premium views of salmon spawning in season, Skutz Falls can be enjoyed best from one of Owner Direct’s many vacation rentals nearby. Located at the end of Mayo road off Cowichan lake road, Skutz Falls is a popular destination all times of the year. Cowichan River Provincial Park: This is a great hub for camping, fishing, swimming, paddling, hiking, cycling or simply enjoying a forested river setting. They are probably holding in some of the deep, cool canyon waters and swims are being done to try to find them. We hiked through expanses of forest that were so thick with ferns that the fronds looked like they were shag carpet—only a very pretty and vibrant carpet—not like the shag carpet I remember from my childhood <
>. The Glenora Trails Head Park is an important eastern gateway to the Cowichan River Provincial Park, the central portion of the Cowichan Valley Trail (part of The Great Trail), the Cowichan River Footpath and Glenora Riverside Park. Skutz Falls day use is located at the Western trailhead of the Cowichan River Footpath and offers pleasant walks, fishing, picnicking, great swimming and tube runs. You should’ve seen their faces when they saw the waterfall . Alright, it’s time to get back to editing, otherwise the love between Claire and Spencer will never get a chance to get out of my head and into your life . In the fall spawning salmon can be viewed at the Skutz Falls and Marie Canyon areas. Skutz Falls is a little canyon-like subsection of the lovely Cowichan River. ( Log Out / Swimming and tubing are popular activities at the Stoltz Pool day-use area and below Skutz Falls. Swimming and tubing are popular activities at the Stoltz Pool day-use area and below Skutz Falls. Highlights include the 90 metre long Mile 66 Trestle over Marie Canyon, and the 73 metre long 64.4-Mile Trestle over Holt Creek. Access can be found from Duncan via Hwy 18, Cowichan Lake Road and River Bottom Road. We ended up going for a long, hot hike, and then a delicious swim in the river next to a baby waterfall. What they don’t know… right? This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I have ridden down it on a tube almost annually. Note: If you have not yet gone tubing down the Cowichan River that should be first on your list when visiting in the summer, as it is rated the number 1 summer activity of Vancouver Island! Firstly, at the source near Skutz falls off highway 18 where the Horseshoe Bend Campsite is located. This provincial park has three main access points. The Skutz Falls area is home to the Skutz Falls fish ladders, it has a couple of quick little rapids exciting enough to make the under 1km walk back to the start over and over again all part of the fun. Expert kayakers run the falls and other put in just below them. It wasn’t really the end of the world, because the trail loops across a trestle bridge and joins up with the Cowichan Valley Trail on the other side of the river. I have spent quite a bit of time on the Cowichan River where Skutz Falls is located. It has some pretty steep sections, and there are a few places where the river has undercut the banks, making for some unstable ground along the edges. By the time we actually arrived at the falls, I was sweaty and ready for a swim. The Swinging Bridge at Skutz Falls is quite a feature, linking the tow sections of the Footpath. Both sides of … If you don’t already, waterfalls (and hot springs) are one of my favourite things. Ian Morrison, the Cowichan Valley Regional District director for Area F (Cowichan Lake South/Skutz Falls) is the new president of the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities. There are a couple of trails that you can take to get to Skutz Falls, but you don’t really have to hike to view them. There are 39 drive-in and 4 walk-in sites at the Stoltz Pool campsite. But Skutz Falls is only about an hour-and-a-half drive, so I knew I needed to go and see them for myself. If you would like to know more about my books and the inspiration behind them, sign up for my newsletter and never miss a thing! It’s almost like the waterfall is horizontal. https://nicoletayloreby.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/20200813_152409.mp4, DISCOVERING A WATERFALL WHEN SEEKING POTHOLES - NICOLE TAYLOR EBY. Follow Mayo Road downhill to the river and park near the bridge. At one point I had to point out that we were actually hiking slower than we did at Cape Scott with our heavy backpacks on, and if we didn’t pick up the pace a little, then we would make it to the waterfall (which I still believed, along with my kids, was a giant thundering waterfall) sometime after dark. Skutz Falls isn’t a giant, cascading waterfall. Besides, she might have led us a little astray on the hike—don’t tell her I told you; I think it might be a secret—so she can’t tease me too much. These falls are a perfect place to take a walk around and view the waterfalls and old salmon ladders along the river. So, yes, the first time I viewed Skutz Falls, I was standing at the base watching the water come roaring over the top… and it wasn’t what I was expecting. ( Log Out / And after having been to the falls, I think the scenes are going to be even more amazing, because the only thing better than a sassy woman being forced to hang out in nature, when she would rather be anywhere else, is to have the promised waterfall be more like a bump in the river. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. It’s more like a mini-waterfall. THE ROMANCE OF CAPE SCOTT PROVINCIAL PARK. I enlisted the help of my friend, who lives in the Cowichan Valley, loaded my kids in the car, and headed up island on a waterfall hunting adventure. I also knew that people had died tubing over the falls. Tourists and locals flock each year to the river to go camping, swimming, fishing, hiking, tubing and canoeing in and along the river corridor. Skutz Falls is not just a lovely place to view but also home to a refreshing swimming hole. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find pictures of Skutz Falls. 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